Albania
- Starting from AED 230
- “Hassle-free, Pick-up & Delivery Service”
Albania
- Starting from AED 230
- “Hassle-free, Pick-up & Delivery Service”
Albania
Albania Tourist Visa For UAE Residents
Experience the Timeless Charm of Albania: Europe's Hidden Gem
Albania, a captivating country nestled in the Balkans, is an emerging travel destination that beckons adventurers and culture seekers alike. With its stunning Adriatic and Ionian coastlines, breathtaking mountainous landscapes and rich tapestry of history and culture, Albania offers a unique blend of experiences that are sure to enchant every traveler. Explore the ancient ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site or wander through the charming streets of Gjirokastër and Berat, known as the “City of a Thousand Windows.” For beach lovers, the Albanian Riviera boasts pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, perfect for relaxation and water sports. Nature enthusiasts can hike in the rugged Albanian Alps, while food lovers can savour the diverse flavours of Albanian cuisine, influenced by Mediterranean and Balkan traditions. With its warm hospitality, affordable prices and visa-free travel for UAE citizens, Albania is the perfect destination for those seeking an off-the-beatenpath adventure in Europe. Whether you’re exploring its ancient history, vibrant culture, or stunning natural beauty, Albania promises an unforgettable journey filled with discovery and wonder
Albania
Requirements For UAE Nationals:
UAE citizens can enter Albania without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the applicant’s planned departure date from Albania along with return air tickets and hotel reservation.
Types of visas | Category |
Type A | Airport Transit Visa |
Type C | Short stay Visa (up to 90 days) |
Type D | A Long stay Visa (more than 90 days) |
Requirements For UAE Residents:
- Passport to be valid for 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Valid UAE residence visa with validity of 6 months.
- Passport and Residence Visa Copy.
- Copy of Emirates ID.
- Filled visa application form.
- 2 recent colour photographs with plain background with dimensions 47 mm x 36 mm.
- No objection certificate (NOC) from the company.
- Round-Trip Ticket Reservation.
- Hotel Reservation.
- The host is an Albanian citizen or a foreigner citizen, resident in the Republic of Albania or legal person who exercises activities under Albanian legislation, who declares in writing that he assumes responsibilities for staying and leaving the foreigner in/from the Republic of Albania according to the legal provisions in force.
- The visa processing usually takes 15 working days from the day when the payment for the visa is made. For exceptional cases, the verification process can take up to 30 working days.
Important Notes:
- The application must be made within 90 days of the intended date of travel. The application will be refused if your intended date of travel is longer than 90 days from the date of your visa application.
- Visa application process is only accepted if it is completed online and ensuring that the applicant is outside the territory of the Republic of Albania after payment of the visa fee.
- The documentation from the country of origin and/or from the country where the foreigner had a legal stay must be translated into the Albanian or English language certified and legalized based on the obligations arising from international agreements.
- Obtaining a visa is not a guarantee that the foreigner is allowed to enter the Republic of Albania.
Application Phases
First phase
Visa application process is only accepted if it is completed online, and you must ensure that you are outside of the territory of the Republic of Albania after payment of the visa fee. The application is pre-verified by the consul including the application form and uploaded documents and if the application:
- a. is correct, then a notification is sent that the application has been accepted and a visa fee is requested, according to the cost and type of visa requested.
- b. has irregularities, it is turned back to the applicant requesting the correct documents to be uploaded according to the instructions sent.
- c. does not fulfil any of the criteria necessary for the required visa, the application is rejected according to the legal framework.
Second phase
After the applicant pays the visa fee, the following steps are undertaken:
- The applicant is notified via email that the application is in the “evaluation process” stage.
- The applicant is notified via the e-Visa system in their email of the decision of the responsible state authorities. The assessment process as a rule takes up to 15 working days and in exceptional cases it can take up to 30 working days.
- If the visa is approved, the electronic visa is generated by the e-Visa system and sent by email to the applicant. You must be in possession of the visa at the Border Crossing Point of the Republic of Albania, when entering and leaving the territory.
- If the visa is rejected, the applicant is informed via their email with the legal arguments for the visa rejection.
Albania
Top Tourist Attractions in Albania
Tirana
The capital of Albania, and the only place that genuinely feels like a city, Tirana isn’t overwhelmed by its recent repressive history. Instead of hiding away the Communist-era interrogation centres and prisons, city authorities have transformed them into darkly fascinating museums, art galleries and memorials – and then surrounded them with an ever-changing cast of hipster bars and restaurants. At weekends, ride the cable car up Mount Dajti to join the locals for a spit-roast lamb lunch with a view down over the city.
Berat
Beautiful Berat is a town of two halves. Down on the river bank houses are clustered up tight against the side of a forested hill, their windows bouncing sunlight off the water. Take the steep climb up towards the summit of that hill though and you’ll arrive at Berat’s other – and much older – half. A restored medieval gateway leads into the Kalaja, or fortress, where wildflowers sprout from crumbling walls and a clutch of centuries-old churches and mosques have been turned into museums.
Ksamil
Albania’s quintessential beach spot. Although far from undiscovered, Ksamil – which sweeps around a series of low, wooded headlands and encompasses a number of still glistening bays, beaches and small islets – is something special. Mass tourism, fuelled by visitors from neighbouring landlocked countries, has dramatically changed the Albanian coastline in recent years, but Ksamil retains the laidback magic that first attracted people to the Albanian Riviera. And, of course, the seafood is excellent.
Gjirokastër
The story of the small hill town of Gjirokastër, in southern Albania, stretches back at least 2,500 years – with some of the treasures from this great antiquity carefully laid out in the town’s small museum. Most people today though come here to see the 600 or so stunning Ottoman-era manor houses that dot the town and surrounding hillside, some of which are open to visitors. The pretty-but-touristy centre of town (Gjirokastër is a favourite with bus tours on a day trip from Corfu) is all cobbled streets, arty cafes and less arty souvenir shops.
Butrint
Arguably the most impressive historical site in Albania, Butrint is an ancient Greek city of sunflower-yellow stones and rocks. Some of the ruins here – the theatre, Forum and public baths in particular – are extraordinarily well preserved, but just as much pleasure is to be had poking about the lesser-known ruins. To add to the wonder of the site, the whole complex is beautifully situated under shady woodland and on the shores of a quiet coastal lagoon.
Shkodër
The large town of Shkodër, which lazes on the side of a lake a short way back from the sea, doesn’t make it onto many Albanian itineraries. Yet, with its pastel-painted buildings and elegant squares, it has a distinctly Italian ambiance. Add to this an abundance of history and culture and you have yourself a perfect city break. The city boasts some of Albania’s best museums (such as the Marubi National Photography Museum, which covers the history of photography in Albania, and the Site of Witness and Memory Museum, which outlines Albania’s recent Communist past), a large fortress complex, some excellent restaurants – and yes, the Italian influence extends to dinner – and long, sandy beaches just a short drive away.
The Albanian Alps
The Albanian Alps, otherwise known as the Accursed Mountains, are anything but cursed. The valleys of these soaring mountains are filled with meadows, pastures and lakes in vivid greens, while beautiful, traditional stone villages dot the region. The slopes, which are thickly forested and turn a fiery red and orange in autumn, lead to summits that are licked in ice and snow for months on end. Its fabulous hiking country and numerous day and multi-day trails snake around the slopes.
Apollonia
Far from anywhere, and little known to most foreign visitors to Albania, the ruins of the ancient Illyrian city of Apollonia are a huge 2,500-year-old complex of half-buried walls, mosaics and pillars, spread across olive tree-dotted hills. The theatre and the administrative centre still retain great grandeur, and the treasure-stuffed museum is well worth a visit. Away from the main ruins, one of Apollonia’s biggest draws is its feeling of quiet solitude. Come for the history, stay for the tranquility.
Gjipe beach
The forty-five-minute cliffside walking trail to Albania’s Gjipe beach starts from beside the thick stone walls of the Saint Theodore Monastery. The religious start is appropriate: as soon as you set eyes on this small, white-pebble beach, set below cliffs at the mouth of a wooded gorge, you’ll think you’re in Mediterranean beach heaven. The atmosphere at Gjipe remains low-key and development mercifully limited. There’s a seasonal beach café and, a short way up into the gorge, a basic camping area. Come in June or September and you might have it all to yourself.